Short Summary

TWO SOVIET SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON A NEWLY-ERECTED WOODEN WATCHTOWER IN EAST BERLIN, OVERLOOKING THE BORDER WALL AT BERNAUERSTRASSE.

Description

TWO SOVIET SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON A NEWLY-ERECTED WOODEN WATCHTOWER IN EAST BERLIN, OVERLOOKING THE BORDER WALL AT BERNAUERSTRASSE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BERLIN BORDER CLOSURE LAST YEAR THAT SOVIET GUARDS HAVE MANNED A LOOKOUT POST IN THE CITY, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN SEEN IN WATCHTOWERS ALONG THE FRONTIER AROUND BERLIN.

THE WATCHTOWER WAS SET UP LAST FRIDAY ON THE ROOF OF A HOUSE, NEAR BUILDINGS BEING DEMOLISHED BY EAST BERLIN WORKERS. THE SOVIET GUARDS SEEM TO BE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THE BERNAUERSTRASSE, SCENE OF SEVERAL DRAMATIC ESCAPE BIDS BY EAST GERMAN REFUGEES.

ACCORDING TO WEST BERLIN POLICE, THE SOVIET SOLDIERS ARE NOT HEAVILY-ARMED, AND APPEAR TO BE THERE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS IF REFUGEES ARE SHOT DOWN BY EAST GERMAN BORDER GUARDS.